News

Empey warns of DUP 'stalling'

THE Ulster Unionist leader has warned that loyalist paramilitaries may be deflected from their peace strategy if a political power-sharing deal is not concluded this year. Sir Reg Empey believes that some in the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) want to hold out past the British government’s November 24 agreement deadline in the hope that Gordon Brown as prime minister would be more sympathetic to unionism.

“In terms of government attention, this may be the optimum moment to reach agreement,” Empey said. “Tony Blair probably won’t be here in a year’s time. For a large variety of reasons we might find that this is the best opportunity.

“I hear Ian Paisley say, ‘Gordon Brown is a son of the manse’ [a reference to the chancellor’s Scots Presbyterian background]. That is all hogwash. Brown will have a learning curve if he takes over. He will have no interest in Northern Ireland — his